The Nazi Party‘s rise to power and subsequent reign in Germany relied heavily on two paramilitary organizations: the Sturmabteilung (SA) and the Schutzstaffel (SS). While both played significant roles, they had distinct origins, functions, and fates. Understanding the key differences between the SA and SS provides crucial insights into the inner workings and power dynamics of the Nazi regime.
The SA: Hitler‘s Early Enforcers
Founded in 1921, the SA served as the original paramilitary arm of the Nazi Party. Its members, known as "Brownshirts" due to their uniform color, were largely composed of disgruntled World War I veterans and the unemployed. As historian Daniel Siemens notes in "Stormtroopers: A New History of Hitler‘s Brownshirts," the SA "played a central role in the Nazi movement‘s rise to power, its seizure of power, and its consolidation of power."
Under the leadership of Ernst Röhm from 1931 to 1934, the SA grew rapidly, reaching a membership of approximately 4.5 million by 1934 (Siemens, 2017). Röhm envisioned the SA as a revolutionary force that would eventually absorb the German army and become the nation‘s dominant military power. However, this ambition would ultimately lead to his downfall.
The SA‘s street-fighting tactics and public presence were instrumental in projecting an image of strength and unity for the Nazi movement. They intimidated political opponents, disrupted rival party meetings, and provided security at Nazi rallies. As Richard J. Evans writes in "The Third Reich in Power," the SA "had been largely responsible for the violence that had characterized the Nazi rise to power."
However, as Hitler consolidated power, he grew increasingly wary of the SA‘s size and Röhm‘s ambitions. This tension culminated in the infamous Night of the Long Knives (June 30-July 2, 1934), during which Hitler purged the SA leadership, effectively neutralizing the organization‘s power. As Evans notes, "the SA was effectively reduced to a mere shadow of its former self" after the purge.
The SS: Fanatical Loyalty and Ruthless Efficiency
In contrast to the SA, the SS had humbler beginnings as Hitler‘s personal bodyguard unit in 1925. Led by the notorious Heinrich Himmler, the SS quickly expanded in size and responsibility, becoming the most powerful and feared organization in Nazi Germany. As Adrian Weale writes in "The SS: A New History," Himmler transformed the SS "from a small personal bodyguard into a vast state within a state."
The SS was divided into two main branches: the Allgemeine-SS (general SS), which oversaw police forces, intelligence, and concentration camps, and the Waffen-SS (armed SS), which served as elite combat troops and Hitler‘s bodyguards. By 1939, the SS had grown to approximately 250,000 members (Weale, 2010).
SS members were known for their distinctive black uniforms adorned with emblems such as the double lightning bolts and the death‘s head. They were fiercely loyal to Hitler and fanatically dedicated to Nazi ideology, making them willing participants in the Holocaust and other atrocities committed by the regime. As George C. Browder writes in "Hitler‘s Enforcers: The Gestapo and the SS Security Service in the Nazi Revolution," the SS "became the most powerful instrument of repression and terror in the Nazi state."
The SS‘s efficient organization and pervasive influence allowed them to penetrate all levels of German society and government. They oversaw a vast network of concentration and extermination camps, where millions of Jews, Roma, political prisoners, and other "undesirables" were imprisoned, tortured, and murdered. The SS Einsatzgruppen (mobile killing squads) were responsible for the mass shootings of over a million Jews and others in occupied Eastern Europe.
The Rise of the SS and Fall of the SA
The contrasting trajectories of the SA and SS reflect the shifting power dynamics within the Nazi hierarchy. As Hitler sought to strengthen his grip on power, he favored the more disciplined and loyal SS over the increasingly unruly SA. The Night of the Long Knives marked a turning point, with the SS emerging as the dominant force while the SA was relegated to a diminished role.
This transition also highlights Hitler‘s ruthless pragmatism. While the SA had been crucial to his rise, he did not hesitate to eliminate them when they became a potential threat to his authority. As Siemens observes, "the purge of the SA leadership demonstrated the extent to which Hitler was willing to go to consolidate his power and eliminate any potential rivals."
The SS, on the other hand, remained unwavering in their devotion to Hitler and the Nazi cause, making them a more reliable and effective tool for implementing the regime‘s policies. As Himmler declared in a 1931 speech, "We shall unremittingly fulfill our task, the task of providing the Germanic people with an elite of leaders and fighters of the highest racial purity and unparalleled boldness" (Weale, 2010).
The Postwar Fate of the SA and SS
After Germany‘s defeat in World War II, both the SA and SS were declared criminal organizations during the Nuremberg Trials. Many of their leaders and members were prosecuted for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ernst Röhm had already been executed during the Night of the Long Knives, but Heinrich Himmler committed suicide after his capture by British forces in May 1945.
However, many lower-ranking SS members escaped prosecution and went on to lead normal lives in postwar Germany and elsewhere. As Gerald Reitlinger notes in "The SS: Alibi of a Nation, 1922-1945," "the vast majority of the SS men… were able to merge themselves back into the German community after the war, their previous allegiance to the SS all but forgotten."
The legacy of the SA and SS continues to cast a shadow over German history and collective memory. The atrocities they committed serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked power, fanatical ideology, and blind loyalty.
Conclusion
The SA and SS were both essential components of the Nazi apparatus, but they served different purposes and met different ends. The SA‘s role as the Party‘s early enforcers was eclipsed by the SS‘s rise as a fanatically loyal and brutally efficient organization. Understanding the distinctions between these two groups sheds light on the complex power structures and internal dynamics that shaped the Nazi regime‘s actions and ultimate fate.
As historians continue to study the SA and SS, new insights and perspectives emerge, deepening our understanding of this dark chapter in human history. By examining the differences between these two organizations, we can better comprehend the forces that allowed the Nazi Party to seize and maintain power, as well as the horrific consequences of their ideology and actions.
References:
Browder, G. C. (1996). Hitler‘s Enforcers: The Gestapo and the SS Security Service in the Nazi Revolution. Oxford University Press.
Evans, R. J. (2006). The Third Reich in Power. Penguin Books.
Reitlinger, G. (1957). The SS: Alibi of a Nation, 1922-1945. Viking Press.
Siemens, D. (2017). Stormtroopers: A New History of Hitler‘s Brownshirts. Yale University Press.
Weale, A. (2010). The SS: A New History. Little, Brown and Company.
